SKC Pocket Pump TOUCH (220-1000TC) Portable Constant-Flow Air Sampling Pump

Overview

The SKC Pocket Pump TOUCH (220-1000TC) is a next-generation portable constant-flow air sampling pump engineered for precision, reliability, and field usability in occupational hygiene, environmental monitoring, and indoor air quality (IAQ) assessment. Designed as a direct evolution of the legacy Pocket Pump platform, this instrument employs microprocessor-controlled proportional valve technology to maintain stable volumetric flow across variable sampling resistances—critical when drawing air through sorbent tubes (e.g., Tenax®, charcoal, silica gel), diffusion samplers, or impingers. Its operation adheres to fundamental principles of calibrated volumetric displacement under compensated pressure conditions, enabling compliance with standardized methods including OSHA ID-142, NIOSH 1501/1600 series, and ISO 16000-22 for volatile organic compound (VOC) collection. Unlike fixed-speed diaphragm pumps, the TOUCH model dynamically adjusts motor duty cycle and valve position in real time to counteract changes in temperature, atmospheric pressure, and filter/tube loading—ensuring traceable, auditable flow performance essential for GLP- and ISO/IEC 17025-compliant laboratories.

Key Features

• Intuitive capacitive touchscreen interface with programmable sampling protocols, automatic screen lock, and adjustable backlight dimming to preserve battery life and prevent accidental parameter changes during deployment.
• Integrated backpressure, temperature, and barometric pressure compensation ensures flow stability within ±5% of setpoint—or ±3 mL/min—across the full 20–500 mL/min range, even at up to 20 inches H₂O resistance.
• Magnetic charging connector eliminates wear-prone ports; supports USB-C power input and enables hot-swappable battery operation without interrupting active sampling sessions.
• Rubberized IP64-rated housing provides mechanical shock absorption, slip-resistant grip, and acoustic dampening for low-noise (<45 dBA) operation in quiet environments such as offices or residential IAQ surveys.
• Self-diagnostic firmware detects flow deviation exceeding tolerance thresholds, automatically attempts five sequential restarts at 5-second intervals, and halts sampling with error logging if recovery fails after 25 seconds.
• Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity enables wireless synchronization with SKC’s DataTrac Pro software for configuration, real-time telemetry, and secure export of audit-ready CSV logs—including timestamps, cumulative volume, ambient T/P, and battery status.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The Pocket Pump TOUCH is validated for use with all standard 37-mm and 47-mm filter cassettes, multi-bed sorbent tubes (e.g., SKC Ultra, Anasorb®), Tedlar® bags, and passive badge holders requiring precise low-to-moderate flow rates. Its dual-mode architecture supports both constant-flow (CF) and constant-pressure (CP) sampling configurations—making it suitable for gravimetric PM analysis, formaldehyde DNPH cartridge sampling, and semi-volatile pesticide residue collection per EPA Method TO-17. The device meets CE marking requirements under Directive 2014/30/EU (EMC) and 2014/35/EU (LVD), carries UL intrinsic safety certification (Class I, Division 2, Groups A–D), and operates within temperature (0–45°C) and humidity (≤95% RH, non-condensing) limits specified in ISO 8518 for personal sampling pumps. All firmware and calibration data are stored internally with write-protected memory, supporting FDA 21 CFR Part 11-compliant electronic records when used with validated DataTrac Pro workflows.

Software & Data Management

DataTrac Pro v4.x (Windows/macOS) serves as the official configuration and data management platform, offering role-based user access control, digital signature support, and automated report generation compliant with ISO/IEC 17025 clause 7.8.2. Each pump stores up to 1,000 sampling events with metadata including start/stop time, actual vs. programmed flow, integrated volume, battery voltage history, and diagnostic flags. Exported datasets include UTC-synchronized timestamps, ambient temperature and pressure readings (from onboard sensors), and cumulative runtime counters—enabling full traceability from field deployment to laboratory analysis. Firmware updates are delivered via signed binary packages verified using SHA-256 checksums, ensuring integrity and preventing unauthorized modification.

Applications

• Occupational exposure assessment for respirable crystalline silica (NIOSH 7500), metals (NIOSH 7300), and aldehydes (NIOSH 2016).
• Indoor air quality investigations targeting VOCs, SVOCs, and semi-volatiles in schools, hospitals, and commercial buildings.
• Environmental site assessments requiring time-integrated sampling over 8–24 hour periods using diffusion samplers or passive badges.
• Method validation studies where flow accuracy, repeatability, and environmental compensation must be quantified per ASTM D7285 or ISO 16000-22 Annex B.
• Mobile monitoring campaigns leveraging Bluetooth tethering to tablet-based LIMS interfaces for real-time QA/QC dashboards.

FAQ

Does the Pocket Pump TOUCH require external calibration before first use?
No—the unit ships with factory calibration traceable to NIST standards. However, users must perform initial field verification using a primary calibrator (e.g., bubble burette or electronic flowmeter) per ISO 8518 Section 6.2 prior to regulated sampling.
Can multiple pumps be synchronized for coordinated multi-location sampling?
Yes—via DataTrac Pro’s “Group Start” function, up to four Pocket Pump TOUCH units can initiate simultaneous sampling with millisecond-level timestamp alignment when triggered over Bluetooth.
Is the battery replaceable by the end user?
The Li-ion battery is sealed and not field-replaceable; SKC recommends returning units to authorized service centers after 500 charge cycles or diminished runtime below 16 hours at 200 mL/min.
What happens if the pump encounters excessive backpressure beyond 20 in. H₂O?
The system triggers immediate flow fault detection, attempts auto-recovery, and logs an error code (E07) indicating over-resistance condition—preventing inaccurate volume integration and preserving sample integrity.
How is data integrity ensured during Bluetooth transmission?
All wireless communication uses AES-128 encryption; sampled data packets include CRC-32 checksums and are acknowledged at the protocol layer to guarantee lossless transfer between pump and host.